Delete a single search from Google right now
Open myactivity.google.com in your browser. You'll see a timeline of everything you've searched for, organized by date. Find the search you want to remove, hover over it, and click the trash icon that appears on the right side. Google deletes it immediately — it won't show up in your search history again.
If you have a lot of searches to sort through, use the search box at the top of the page to find the specific search faster. Type a word or phrase from the search you want to delete, and Google will filter the timeline to show only matching results.
You need to be signed into your Google account for this to work. If you're not signed in, Google doesn't save your searches to your account history, so there's nothing to delete from this page.
Key Takeaways
- Go to myactivity.google.com, find the search you want to remove, and click the trash icon next to it.
- Use the search box at the top of the page to filter your history and find a specific search faster.
- Deleting a search from your Google account history removes it from all your devices where you're signed in.
- Clearing your browser's search bar history is separate from deleting Google account history and requires different steps depending on your browser.
- Turning off Web & App Activity in your Google account settings stops Google from saving future searches to your history.
The difference between Google account history and browser history
When you delete a search from myactivity.google.com, you're removing it from your Google account history — the record Google keeps of your activity across all devices where you're signed in. This is different from your browser's search history, which is stored on your computer or phone.
If you search using Google's search bar (the one on google.com), the search appears in both places: in your Google account history and in your browser's history. Deleting it from one does not delete it from the other. You'll need to clear your browser history separately if you want to remove the search from there as well.
Browser history lives on your device only. If you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, each browser keeps its own separate history. Deleting a search from Chrome's history won't remove it from Firefox's history on the same computer.
How to clear your browser's search bar history
The steps depend on which browser you use. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select "History," then "Clear browsing data." Choose the time range and make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, then click "Clear data." In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines), go to "History," and select "Clear Recent History." Choose what to delete and the time range.
In Safari on Mac, click "Safari" in the menu bar, select "Clear History," and choose how far back you want to clear. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll down to Safari, tap "Clear History and Website Data," and confirm. In Edge, click the three-dot menu, select "History," then "Clear browsing data," choose your time range, and click "Clear now."
Clearing your browser history removes all the searches you've typed into the search bar, not just Google searches. It also removes your browsing history on other websites.
Stop Google from saving searches in the first place
If you don't want Google to save your searches to your account history going forward, turn off Web & App Activity in your Google account settings. Go to myactivity.google.com, click "Web & App Activity" on the left side, then toggle the switch to the off position. Google will ask you to confirm — click "Turn off."
When Web & App Activity is off, Google still processes your searches to show you results, but it doesn't store them in your account history. You can turn this setting back on at any time. This setting applies to all devices where you're signed into your Google account.
Turning off Web & App Activity is different from using Incognito mode in your browser. Incognito mode prevents your browser from saving searches locally on your device, but Google may still process the search. Web & App Activity controls what Google's servers save about you.
What happens when you delete a search
When you delete a search from myactivity.google.com, it disappears from your Google account history on all devices where you're signed in. If you use the same Google account on your phone, tablet, and computer, the deleted search won't appear on any of them.
Deleting a search does not change Google's records of what you've searched for in other ways. For example, if Google used your search to personalize ads or recommendations, deleting the search from your history may not immediately change those ads or recommendations. Those personalization features are based on your broader activity, not just individual searches.
Deleting searches on mobile devices
On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture in the top right, select "Manage your Google Account," go to the "Data & Privacy" tab, scroll down to "Web & App Activity," and tap it. You'll see your search history. Tap and hold a search to select it, then tap the trash icon. On iPhone or iPad, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to "Manage your Google Account," tap "Data & Privacy," scroll to "Web & App Activity," and follow the same steps.
You can also use myactivity.google.com on your phone's browser to delete searches the same way you would on a computer. The process is identical — find the search, tap the trash icon, and it's gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete all my Google searches at once?
Yes. Go to myactivity.google.com, click the three-dot menu at the top, select "Delete activity by," choose "All time" or a specific date range, and confirm. This removes all searches from your Google account history for that period. You can also delete activity by product — for example, delete only Google Search history while keeping YouTube history.
Does deleting a search from Google hide it from my internet provider or employer?
No. Deleting a search from your Google account history only removes it from Google's records and your own devices. Your internet service provider and employer can see your internet activity through their own networks, regardless of what you delete from Google. If you're on a work network, your employer may have access to your browsing activity.
If I delete a search, can Google still see it?
Once you delete a search from myactivity.google.com, it no longer appears in your account history. However, Google's servers may retain other records of your activity for internal purposes. Turning off Web & App Activity prevents Google from saving future searches to your account history.
What if I forgot what I searched for and want to find it again?
If you deleted a search and want to recover it, you cannot retrieve it from myactivity.google.com. However, if you remember roughly when you searched for it, you might find it in your browser's history instead. Check Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge history depending on which browser you used.
Does clearing my browser history delete my Google account history too?
No. Clearing your browser history only removes searches from your computer or phone's local storage. Your Google account history remains on Google's servers and will still appear when you sign into your Google account on any device. You need to delete searches separately from myactivity.google.com to remove them from your Google account.